Walsall town centres to be given multi-million pound cash boost to attract more visitors
‘Deprived’ towns in Walsall are set to get a cash injection of £8 million to make changes ‘paramount to our future’.
Willenhall, Brownhills, Bloxwich and Darlaston will benefit from improvements to roads and footpaths – in a bid to attract more visitors.
Walsall Council’s Cabinet discussed the proposals last week as a way to boost the local economy by improving the look of the towns.
It is set to be the first investment into the separate towns’ roads and footpaths in more than a decade.
Bosses will aim to get traffic moving through each town centre in order to get motorists close to shops.
Investment
Council leader, Sean Coughlan, said: “The real issue is the investment into district centres such as Willenhall, Brownhills, Bloxwich and Darlaston, which are deprived areas that have had no investment from the council for years.
“It is a real change in emphasis for Walsall Council that has not been seen in 20 years.
“We are investing in district centres that desperately need support because we need to change the attitude about these towns.
“Wolverhampton Council always support their towns, such as Wednesfield, which are on the border with us and make us look bad so we aim to get our towns thriving again.
“I am pleased that we are having a plan coming into fruition and in these district centres where it is paramount to our future.
“I am hoping the opposition realise the difficult task we have had I am hoping we can get our budget through and we can our move.”
Boost
The plans will be discussed as part of the budget in the upcoming full council meeting on Wednesday.
The Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling and Metro Mayor Andy Street are due to visit Willenhall in Marchz to talk through proposals.
Business expert Ninder Johal, a board member at the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, said the investment would be a boost for the borough.
He said: “The Black Country is becoming a better place to work and live.
“It is really good news Walsall is the latest borough to invest in the local area which will improve the perception of it by its inhabitants.”
